Gosden talks down chances of a clean sweep in this season's five British Classics

Last updated at 11:14 28 April 2008

While he dismisses talk of a clean sweep of this season's five British Classics as “hyperbole and nonsense”, there is no denying that trainer John Gosden is sitting pretty ahead of this weekend's Guineas meeting at Newmarket.

Gosden is responsible for the 2,000 Guineas second favourite in Raven's Pass, the 1,000 Guineas market leader Infallible, the new Juddmonte Oaks jolly Dar Re Mi, and Centennial who is as short as 8-1 for the Vodafone Derby.

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Saturday's 2,000 Guineas is the first of the Classics — the St Leger at Doncaster in September (which Gosden won with Lucarno last year) is the fifth — and the Newmarket handler admits he left something to work on with Raven's Pass after he finished second in the Craven Stakes

11 days ago.

He told the Racing Post: “I didn't have him fully tuned so I'm thrilled with the way he ran.

"He quickened to win his race but blew up in the last 50 yards.

“He's come out of the race really well and it's taken the freshness out of him.”

However, with rain expected in the Newmarket area this week, Gosden warned that he would withdraw the son of Elusive Quality if the ground turned soft.

Sunday's 1,000 Guineas sees Nell Gwyn winner Infallible defend her unbeaten record and Gosden said: “She's a nice strong filly with a fabulous attitude and since the trial she's continued to flourish.

“They didn't really go fast enough for her in the race [the Nell Gwyn] and she was looking at everything. She does it at home going up the canters, she looks at birds. I hope she concentrates in the Guineas!”

Centennial will have his Derby trial in the Dante at York, while Dar Re Mi is also bound for the Knavesmire with Gosden pencilling in the Musidora for her tuneup for Epsom.